Live updates: At least 132 structures destroyed by Mountain Fire in Ventura County
ByABC7.com staff
Last updated: Friday, November 8, 2024 2:45PM GMT
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CAMARILLO, Calif. (KABC) -- Thousands of residents were forced to flee a fast-moving wildfire, called the Mountain Fire, as it consumed dozens of homes in several Ventura County communities.
The Mountain Fire stood at 20,485 acres as of Friday morning, with 7% containment, Cal Fire said. The blaze is now moving toward the communities of Santa Paula and Somis after destroying parts of Camarillo. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The out-of-control brush fire broke out near the 7900 block of Balcom Canyon Road and Bradley Road at approximately 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The fire department initially described the incident as a two-alarm fire that burned 250 acres, but it quickly exploded due to the strong Santa Ana winds and dry brush in the region.
Mountain Fire in Moorpark evacuations, road closures, evacuation shelter
Evacuation orders:
Zone 1 - North of Somis: areas north of East Los Angeles Avenue/Hwy 118, west of Balcom Canyon Road, and east of La Vista Avenue
Zone 2 - Saticoy Country Club: east of Los Angeles Ave/Hwy 118, and south of the Santa Clara River and north of Beardsley Road
Zone 3 - Areas south of Hwy 118, west of N. Lewis Road, north of North Loop Drive and Mission Drive, and east of Fairway Drive
Zone 4 - West Camarillo (Las Posas/Spanish Hills areas): north of Las Posas Road, south and east of Central Avenue and Beardsley Road, and west of Anacapa Drive
Zone 6 - The area extending south of Santa Clara River, east of Los Angeles Avenue, north of Saticoy County Club, and west of Briggs Road
Zone 8 - An area extending south of South Mountain Road, east of Briggs Road, and west of 12th Street and Bixby Road
Zone 9 - The area east of Santa Paula Community Golf Course, north along Santa Clara River, west of South Mountain Road at Sespe Street, south to Bixby Road
Zone 10 - An area extending east of 12th Street to Willard Road, south of HWY 126 along Santa Clara River
Zone 11 - South of the Santa Clara River, north of the ridge bottom of South Mountain at the rock quarry, west of Grimes Canyon Road, east of San Cayetano Street
Zone 12 - The area north of Los Angeles Avenue, west of Grimes Canyon Road, east of San Caytano Street, south of the ridge bottom of South Mountain at the rock quarry
Unincorporated Somis: West to Saticoy Country Club, east to Balcom Canyon Road, south to Highway 118.
Evacuation warnings:
Zone 7 - The area north of Hwy 101 and south and east of Beardsley Avenue, and south of Central Avenue
Road closures:
Northbound Lewis Road at Las Posas
Eastbound Highway 118 at Wells Road
Westbound Highway 118 at Tierra Rejada Road
Stockton Road between Waters and Balcom Canyon
Temporary evacuation shelter: Padre Serra Parish 5205 Upland Road Camarillo, CA 93012
Large animal evacuation center: The Ventura County Fairgrounds are at full capacity and will not be able to take any more large animals that were evacuated. If someone has a horse or livestock that needs to be evacuated, call Ventura County Animal Services main number at 805 388-4341 to get details on an alternate location to board them.
Small animal evacuation center: Ventura County Animal Services (Camarillo Airport) 600 Aviation Drive Camarillo, 93010
Fire information hotline: 805-465-6650
Nov 06, 2024, 9:57 PM GMT
Mountain Fire mapped at more than 8K acres
Just before 2 p.m., Cal Fire updated the Mountain Fire acreage to 8,882 acres after burning for about four hours.
A press conference has been scheduled for 4 p.m. for updates from operational leaders on the fire's status and response efforts. ABC7 will bring you live coverage of the press conference when it happens.
Firefighter's family describes fleeing flames as their home burned
A mother and daughter described the frightening experience of trying to rescue their animals, all while their home burned.
A mother and daughter described the frightening experience of trying to rescue their animals, all while their home burned in the Mountain Fire.
"We got half of our animals out right when it started, and came back, and she got through to get the rest of the animals out. My husband works for the Ventura County Fire Department, so they were up there trying to put out the fire," the mother said.
Her daughter saw the roof of their home engulfed in flames.
"Our roof is pretty burned up. I was in there getting our ducks, and as I was in there, the pond was catching flames as I was standing there trying to get them out," the daughter described.
The pair said they plan on heading to their extended family's home in Santa Paula with their animals.
The extreme wind conditions grounded fixed-wing aircraft because of "very dangerous" conditions caused by gusts topping 61 mph, said weather service meteorologist Bryan Lewis. He said pilots could face turbulence that could bring a plane down, as well limited visibility from the massive smoke plume.
12:25 AM GMT
Mountain Fire in Moorpark evacuations, road closures, evacuation shelter
Evacuation orders:
Zone 1 - North of Somis: areas north of East Los Angeles Avenue/Hwy 118, west of Balcom Canyon Road, and east of La Vista Avenue
Zone 2 - Saticoy Country Club: east of Los Angeles Ave/Hwy 118, and south of the Santa Clara River and north of Beardsley Road
Zone 3 - Areas south of Hwy 118, west of N. Lewis Road, north of North Loop Drive and Mission Drive, and east of Fairway Drive
Zone 4 - West Camarillo (Las Posas/Spanish Hills areas): north of Las Posas Road, south and east of Central Avenue and Beardsley Road, and west of Anacapa Drive
Zone 6 - The area extending south of Santa Clara River, east of Los Angeles Avenue, north of Saticoy County Club, and west of Briggs Road
Zone 8 - An area extending south of South Mountain Road, east of Briggs Road, and west of 12th Street and Bixby Road
Zone 9 - The area east of Santa Paula Community Golf Course, north along Santa Clara River, west of South Mountain Road at Sespe Street, south to Bixby Road
Zone 10 - An area extending east of 12th Street to Willard Road, south of HWY 126 along Santa Clara River
Zone 11 - South of the Santa Clara River, north of the ridge bottom of South Mountain at the rock quarry, west of Grimes Canyon Road, east of San Cayetano Street
Zone 12 - The area north of Los Angeles Avenue, west of Grimes Canyon Road, east of San Caytano Street, south of the ridge bottom of South Mountain at the rock quarry
Unincorporated Somis: West to Saticoy Country Club, east to Balcom Canyon Road, south to Highway 118.
Evacuation warnings:
Zone 7 - The area north of Hwy 101 and south and east of Beardsley Avenue, and south of Central Avenue
Road closures:
Northbound Lewis Road at Las Posas
Eastbound Highway 118 at Wells Road
Westbound Highway 118 at Tierra Rejada Road
Stockton Road between Waters and Balcom Canyon
Temporary evacuation shelter: Padre Serra Parish 5205 Upland Road Camarillo, CA 93012
Large animal evacuation center: The Ventura County Fairgrounds are at full capacity and will not be able to take any more large animals that were evacuated. If someone has a horse or livestock that needs to be evacuated, call Ventura County Animal Services main number at 805 388-4341 to get details on an alternate location to board them.
Small animal evacuation center: Ventura County Animal Services (Camarillo Airport) 600 Aviation Drive Camarillo, 93010